Trump considered running as a Republican Party nominee and had hinted that he would not make an official announcement while his television show, Celebrity Apprentice, was still airing. Trump also stated that if he did make an announcement, it would be after the live finale.

However, it appears that potential voters and interested parties won’t have to wait.

This decision does not come easily or without regret; especially when my potential candidacy continues to be validated by ranking at the top of the Republican contenders in polls across the country. I maintain the strong conviction that if I were to run, I would be able to win the primary and ultimately, the general election. I have spent the past several months unofficially campaigning and recognize that running for public office cannot be done half heartedly. Ultimately, however, business is my greatest passion and I am not ready to leave the private sector.Trump has previously and publicly considered running in the past. This most recent consideration, however, came with much controversy. Trump appeared on NBC’s The Today Show in an interview with Meredith Vieira. When asked about Obama’s “birther” controversy, Trump vowed that he had investigators looking into it and presented evidence that had already been largely debunked by other researchers. Trump also gave a profanity-laden speech in Las Vegas to supporters in late April.

He now joins Mike Huckabee as another prominent Republican that will not run in 2012.